• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.1038-1041
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• 2009

Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites produced by the aflatoxigenic fungi in suitable conditions. Saffron, Crocus sativus, is the most expensive spice in the world. Saffron is normally contaminated with soil and hand microflora during harvest and post-harvest operations. In this study, rapid assessment of aflatoxigenic fungi in saffron was accomplished using polymerase chain reaction. In total, 37 market samples were assayed in order to isolate aflatoxin-producing fungi. The 18.9% of the total samples were contaminated with aflatoxigenic fungi. Our results also show that most of the isolated fungi were saprophytes which are normally originated from soil during harvest and postharvest process.

• Mycobiology
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.287-295
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• 2018

In this study, we evaluated the effect of different temperatures (10, 20, 30, and $40^{\circ}C$) and relative humidities (RHs; 12, 44, 76, and 98%) on populations of predominant grain fungi (Aspergillus candidus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium fellutanum, and Penicillium islandicum) and the biocontrol activity of Pseudomonas protegens AS15 against aflatoxigenic A. flavus KCCM 60330 in stored rice. Populations of all the tested fungi in inoculated rice grains were significantly enhanced by both increased temperature and RH. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that one unit increase of temperature resulted in greater effects than that of RH on fungal populations. When rice grains were treated with P. protegens AS15 prior to inoculation with A. flavus KCCM 60330, fungal populations and aflatoxin production in the inoculated grains were significantly reduced compared with the grains untreated with strain AS15 regardless of temperature and RH (except 12% RH for fungal population). In addition, bacterial populations in grains were significantly enhanced with increasing temperature and RH, regardless of bacterial treatment. Higher bacterial populations were detected in biocontrol strain-treated grains than in untreated control grains. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing consistent biocontrol activity of P. protegens against A. flavus population and aflatoxin production in stored rice grains under various environmental conditions of temperature and RH.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국식품위생안전성학회 2002년도 춘계학술발표대회 및 심포지움
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• pp.184-187
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• 2002

• 한국식품저장유통학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.28-41
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• 2023

Non-aflatoxigenic Aspergillus oryzae and aflatoxigenic A. flavus cannot be clearly identified by partial sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 18S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (18S rRNA) regions. This study aimed to compare the accuracy among three aflatoxin detection methods using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit and to select the non-aflatoxigenic Aspergillus sp. isolated from soybean paste. All analytical methods were suitable according to the international standards of Codex Alimentarius FAO-WHO (CODEX) or the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). UPLC exhibited the best of limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ). Based on UPLC, HPLC, and the ELISA kit assay, the P5 and P7 strains isolated from soybean paste had 1,663.49, 1,468.12, and >20 ㎍/kg and 1,470.08, 1,056.73, and >20 ㎍/kg, respectively, detected and re-identified as A. flavus. In contrast, the P3 and P4 strains (A. oryzae), which were detected below the MFDS standards in all assays, were confirmed as non-aflatoxigenic fungi. Among the methods evaluated for quantitative analysis of aflatoxin, UPLC and HPLC are superior in terms of accuracy, and the ELISA kit rapidly detects low concentrations of aflatoxin. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that any Aspergillus sp. isolated for use as a fermentation starter should be analyzed for potential aflatoxin production using UPLC and HPLC for accurate quantitative analysis or ELISA for the rapid detection of low-level concentrations of aflatoxin.

• 한국균학회지
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• 제51권3호
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• pp.219-227
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• 2023

This study was conducted to analyze the distribution and characteristics of fungal species in meju using the traditional method. Fungal distribution in meju was investigated using metagenomic and morphological analyses, based on which Aspergillus flavus/oryzae strains were identified as the dominant fungi in all meju samples, followed by Pichia, Rhizopus and Lichtheimia spp. As A. flavus/oryzae was dominant, we further evaluated the aflatoxin production ability and enzymatic activity of the isolates. Thin-layer chromatography and polymerase chain reaction revealed that the A. flavus/oryzae strains isolated from meju are non-aflatoxigenic fungi. Based on the analyses of amylase and protease activities, strains with high activities of amylase or protease were identified, which are proposed to be used as starters for meju fermentation.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제50권2호
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• pp.202-210
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• 2022

Aflatoxin contamination in rice has been documented in a number of studies, and has a high incidence in Asian countries, and as such, there has been a growing interest in alternative biocontrol strategies to address this issue. In this study, 147 strains of yeasts and yeast-like fungi were screened for their potential to produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) active against Aspergillus flavus strains that produce aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁). Five strains within four different genera showed greater than 50% growth inhibition of some strains of A. flavus. These were Anthracocystis sp. DMKU-PAL124, Aureobasidium sp. DMKU-PAL120, Aureobasidium sp. DMKU-PAL144, Rhodotorula sp. DMKU-PAL99, and Solicococcus keelungensis DMKU-PAL84. VOCs produced by these microorganisms ranged from 4 to 14 compounds and included alcohols, alkenes, aromatics, esters and furans. The major VOCs produced by the closely related Aureobasidium strains were found to bedistinct. Moreover, 2-phenylethanol was the most abundant compound generated by Aureobasidium sp. DMKU-PAL120, while methyl benzeneacetate was the major compound emitted from Aureobasidium sp. DMKU-PAL144. On the other hand, 2-methyl-1-butanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol were significant compounds produced by the other three genera. These antagonists apparently inhibited A. flavus sporulation and mycelial development. Additionally, the reduction of the AFB1 in the fungal-contaminated rice grains was observed after co-incubation with these VOC-producing strains and ranged from 37.7 ± 8.3% to 60.3 ± 3.4%. Our findings suggest that these same microorganisms are promising biological control agents for use against aflatoxin-producing fungi in rice and other agricultural products.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.131-138
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• 1990

Aflatoxins is a chemically diverse group of toxic secondary metabolites that are produced by fungi and often occur in agricultural commodities. Because of their wide range of toxic effects, Aflatoxins cause severe economic losses to farmers and livestock producers and pose a health to human consuming contaminated foods. Long term prospects for biotechnological control of Aflatoxins require elucidation of the specific steps and regulation of their biosynthetic pathways . Aflatoxin determinations can be approached many ways. It is essential to safely handle all experimental materials associated with aflatoxin analysis or aflatoxigenic fungi Visual screening of suspect samples, base on the presence of conidial head of the aspergillus flavus group, and screening samples for the presence of bright greenish yellow flourescence are not chemical tests and such screening techniques may allow aflactoxin contaminated lots into commerce. Microcolumn screening procedures should always be used in conjunction with a quantitative method. Several thin layer chromatography(TLC) and high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) methods are suitable for quantitation and are in general use. Immunochemical Methods such as the ELISA or affinity column chromatography methods are being rapidly developed. The chemical and immunochemical methods can be reliable if care is taken, using suitable controls and personnel that are well trained . All analytical laboratories should stress safety and include suitable analytical validation procedure. Especially a worldwide enquiry was undertaken in recent to obtain up-to-date information about aflatoxin legislation in as many countries of the world as possible. The information concerns aflatoxin in foodstuffs. aflatoxin MI in dairy products, aflatoxins in animal feedstuffs. Limits and regulations for aflatoxin have been expended in recent with more countries having legislation on subject, more products, and more aflatoxins covered by this legislation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제22권12호
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• pp.1740-1748
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• 2012

A home-made meju sample contaminated naturally with aflatoxins was used for isolation of fungal strains. Overall, 230 fungal isolates were obtained on dichloran rosebengal chloramphenicol (DRBC) and dichloran 18% glycerol (DG18) agar plates. Morphological characteristics and molecular analysis of a partial ${\beta}$-tubulin gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of rDNA were used for the identification of the isolates. The fungal isolates were divided into 7 genera: Aspergillus, Eurotium, Penicillium, Eupenicillium, Mucor, Lichtheimia, and Curvularia. Three strains from 56 isolates of the A. oryzae/flavus group were found to be aflatoxigenic A. flavus, by the presence of the aflatoxin biosynthesis genes and confirmatory aflatoxin production by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The predominant isolate from DRBC plates was A. oryzae (42 strains, 36.2%), whereas that from DG18 was A. candidus (61 strains, 53.5%). Out of the 230 isolates, the most common species was A. candidus (34.3%) followed by A. oryzae (22.2%), Mucor circinelloides (13.0%), P. polonicum (10.0%), A. tubingensis (4.8%), and L. ramosa (3.5%). A. flavus and E. chevalieri presented occurrence levels of 2.2%, respectively. The remaining isolates of A. unguis, P. oxalicum, Eupenicillium cinnamopurpureum, A. acidus, E. rubrum, P. chrysogenum, M. racemosus, and C. inaequalis had lower occurrence levels of < 2.0%.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제35권5호
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• pp.438-446
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• 2020

메주와 누룩은 한국 전통 발효 식품에 사용되는 스타터로, Aspergillus속 곰팡이나 aflatoxin에 노출되기 쉽다. 본 연구에서는 우리나라에서 시판되는 57개의 메주 시료와 18개의 누룩 시료로부터 Aspergillus 속 곰팡이를 분리하고 동정하였다. 분리주의 aflatoxin 생성 가능성을 평가하기 위하여 multiplex PCR을 통해 aflatoxin 생합성 유전자(aflO, aflP, aflR)를 확인하고, 이들 분리주에 의해 생성되는 aflatoxin 함량을 HPLC로 조사하였다. 뿐만 아니라 시판 메주와 누룩 시료 중 aflatoxin 함량을 분석하였다. 그 결과, 메주 시료로부터 130개, 누룩 시료로부터 47개 균주가 분리되어 총 177개의 분리주를 확인 및 동정하였다. 각각 메주와 누룩으로부터 분리된 19.2% (25/130), 10.6% (5/47)의 분리주가 3 종류의 aflatoxin 생합성 유전자를 모두 보유하였으며, 그 중 메주로부터 분리된 5개의 분리주가 실제로 aflatoxin을 생성하였다. 시판 메주와 누룩 시료 중 aflatoxin 함량을 분석한 결과, 88% (51/58)의 메주 시료의 aflatoxin 오염 수준은 모두 검출한계 미만으로 나타났고, 누룩 또한 시료의 39% (7/18)가 검출한계 미만으로 확인되었다. 메주와 누룩에서 분리된 분리주 중 aflatoxin 생합성 유전자를 모두 보유하거나 배지 상에서 aflatoxin 생성을 보여준 aflatoxigenic 균주는 존재하였으나 유통되고 있는 시료에서 aflatoxin 오염 빈도는 낮은 수준임을 확인할 수 있었다.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.274-279
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• 2001

일반적으로 메주나 된장 등의 한국 전통발효식품에는 Aspergillus aryzae나 A. nigar 등과 같은 곰팡이독소를 생성하지 않는 균이 주로 서식하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 그러나 때로는 A. flavus나 A. paraciticus와 같은 유해곰팡이가 오염되어 발효나 저장 중에 aflatoxin이 축적될 수 도 있다. 따라서 이들 전통발효식품에서의 aflatoxin 생성균의 검색이 이들 식품의 안전성 확보를 위해 매우 중요하다고 생각된다. 본 연구에서는 면역분석기법을 이용하여 서부경남 시판메주 및 된장에서 aflatoxin 생성균을 검색하였다. 시료로는 서부경남 9개 지역으로부터 메주 10개와 된장 20개를 수집하였고, 수집된 시료로부터 메주에서는 24개 그리고 된장에서는 22개의 Aspergillus속 균을 분리하였다. 분리균들은 SLS 배지에 접종하여 $25^{\circ}C$에서 15일간 배양한 다음, 배양액을 ethyl acetate로 추출하고, DC-ELISA법으로 배양물중의 AFB$_1$을 측정하였다. 그 결과 메주로부터 분리된 균주 중에는 6균주가, 된장에서 분리된 균주에는 2균주가 AFB$_1$을 생산하는 것으로 확인되었다. 메주에서 분리된 6균주의 AFB1 생성량은 평균 54.6$\pm$38.7ng/ml 이었고, 된장에서 분리한 2균주는 평균 11.1 $\pm$ 8.6 ng/ml 의 AFB$_1$을 생산하였다. 그 중 분리균 No. M-5-4는 98.26 ng/ml의 AFB$_1$을 생산하여 가장 높은 생성능을 보였다. 아울러 TLC에 의해 aflatoxin생성능을 재확인 한 결과 DC-ELISA의 결과와 유사하였다. 이상의 결과로 미루어 보아 식품의 안전성과 한국에서의 전통발효식품산업에의 HACCP 시스템 도입을 위해 발효식품에서의 유해곰팡이독소 생성균의 검색은 필요하다고 사료되는 바이다.